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A review by dkatreads
The Education of an Idealist: A Memoir by Samantha Power
4.0
Mad respect for Samantha Power. Proud to know she continues to represent the US abroad as Director of USAID. I loved reading her backstage experiences of US foreign policy, and her candor was remarkably refreshing. I would absolutely consider her something of an inspiration and a role model to me after reading this.
I left this book experiencing a range of emotions though. In some cases, deep pride in the capacity of the US to do good in the world. But also, naturally, immense shame, betrayal, and heartache at not only our impotence, but also our abandonment of the vulnerable across the world.
Much of Samantha’s own frustration and grief of this stemmed from the Obama Administration’s non-response on Syria. Reading more about the Administration’s agonizing paralysis on Syria, which left millions of Syrians to suffer the greatest humanitarian catastrophes and violence seen in the modern world, only deepened my anguish and sense that the world abandoned Syria, where my family is from. This book pressed in on that wound.
And yet I’m grateful for it. It was a reminder of the constraints of “hegemony” and the limits of state power. And it was a spur to do more to reverse the abandonment of Syrians and fight for their dignity. I intend to follow through with that challenge.
I wasn’t particularly wowed with her writing, but I think this book was a wonderful read and well worth your time, simply because Samantha is a deep thinker and passionate advocate. We need more people like her.
I left this book experiencing a range of emotions though. In some cases, deep pride in the capacity of the US to do good in the world. But also, naturally, immense shame, betrayal, and heartache at not only our impotence, but also our abandonment of the vulnerable across the world.
Much of Samantha’s own frustration and grief of this stemmed from the Obama Administration’s non-response on Syria. Reading more about the Administration’s agonizing paralysis on Syria, which left millions of Syrians to suffer the greatest humanitarian catastrophes and violence seen in the modern world, only deepened my anguish and sense that the world abandoned Syria, where my family is from. This book pressed in on that wound.
And yet I’m grateful for it. It was a reminder of the constraints of “hegemony” and the limits of state power. And it was a spur to do more to reverse the abandonment of Syrians and fight for their dignity. I intend to follow through with that challenge.
I wasn’t particularly wowed with her writing, but I think this book was a wonderful read and well worth your time, simply because Samantha is a deep thinker and passionate advocate. We need more people like her.